NFL game summary for 11/14/1976:
Joe Namath came off the bench to take the Jets to a 24-0 halftime lead and the New York defense took advantage of four sacks and six Tampa Bay turnovers to record their first shutout in 13 years. Clark Gaines carried 14 yards for a TD on Namath's first play, then the Jets' quarterback led a 77-yard drive in the second period, capped by a scoring pass to Richard Caster. Lou Piccone scored the final New York touchdown, picking up 60 of his 112 punt return yards on his third quarter TD.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 106.1 (26) | 106.2 (26) | 212.3 (28) | 19 |
| DEFENSE | 171.0 (23) | 162.8 (17) | 333.8 (21) | 22 | |
 | OFFENSE | 128.3 (22) | 124.8 (22) | 253.1 (25) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 194.7 (27) | 165.9 (18) | 360.6 (25) | 17 |
Line: Jets by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-10-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Jets (3-7-0) | 7 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
( 0- 7) NYJ Clark Gaines 14 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
( 0-14) NYJ Rich Caster 3 yard pass from Joe Namath (Pat Leahy kick)
( 0-17) NYJ Pat Leahy 21 yard field goal
( 0-24) NYJ Steve Davis 5 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
( 0-31) NYJ Lou Piccone 60 yard punt return (Pat Leahy kick)
( 0-34) NYJ Pat Leahy 30 yard field goal
TB NYJ
First Downs: 18 24
Rushes-yards: 28-106 47-211
Yards/rush: 3.8 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 18-40-202-2 10-22-144-0
Sacked-yards: 4-31 1-11
Net pass yards: 171 133
Net yards/pass: 3.9 5.8
Total net yards: 277 344
Total plays: 72 (38% run) 70 (67% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 4.9
Fumbles-lost: 4-4 4-1
Turnovers: 6 1
Penalties-yards: 6-53 3-20
Attendance: 46,427
Passing:
TB: Steve Spurrier, 8 of 19 for 75 yards (1 int); Parnell Dickinson, 7 of 13 for 103 yards (1 int); Terry Hanratty, 3 of 8 for 24 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 7 of 12 for 94 yards and 1 TD; Richard Todd, 3 of 10 for 50 yards
Rushing:
TB: Louis Carter, 19 for 79 yards; Rod McNeill, 3 for 13 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 3 for 8 yards; Parnell Dickinson, 2 for 5 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 1 yard NYJ: Clark Gaines, 27 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Steve Davis, 16 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Richard Todd, 3 for 37 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
TB: Louis Carter, 6 for 37 yards; Bob Moore, 2 for 32 yards; Morris Owens, 2 for 19 yards; Rod McNeill, 2 for 17 yards; John McKay, 1 for 49 yards; Barry Smith, 1 for 20 yards; Freddie Douglas, 1 for 12 yards; Manfred Moore, 1 for 6 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 6 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 4 yards NYJ: Clark Gaines, 4 for 76 yards; Rich Caster, 4 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Lou Piccone, 1 for 14 yards; David Knight, 1 for 10 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Louis Carter, 3 for 73 yards; Rod McNeill, 2 for 43 yards; Mike Lemon, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 7 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 6 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Louie Giammona, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Rich Sowells, 1 for 27 yards; Ed Taylor, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 7 for 253 yards NYJ: Duane Carrell, 5 for 188 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 2/3
TB: Steve Spurrier, 8 of 19 for 75 yards (1 int); Parnell Dickinson, 7 of 13 for 103 yards (1 int); Terry Hanratty, 3 of 8 for 24 yards NYJ: Joe Namath, 7 of 12 for 94 yards and 1 TD; Richard Todd, 3 of 10 for 50 yards
Rushing:
TB: Louis Carter, 19 for 79 yards; Rod McNeill, 3 for 13 yards; Jimmy DuBose, 3 for 8 yards; Parnell Dickinson, 2 for 5 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 1 yard NYJ: Clark Gaines, 27 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Steve Davis, 16 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Richard Todd, 3 for 37 yards; Louie Giammona, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
TB: Louis Carter, 6 for 37 yards; Bob Moore, 2 for 32 yards; Morris Owens, 2 for 19 yards; Rod McNeill, 2 for 17 yards; John McKay, 1 for 49 yards; Barry Smith, 1 for 20 yards; Freddie Douglas, 1 for 12 yards; Manfred Moore, 1 for 6 yards; Ed Williams, 1 for 6 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 4 yards NYJ: Clark Gaines, 4 for 76 yards; Rich Caster, 4 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Lou Piccone, 1 for 14 yards; David Knight, 1 for 10 yards
Kick returns:
TB: Louis Carter, 3 for 73 yards; Rod McNeill, 2 for 43 yards; Mike Lemon, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 1 for 23 yards
Punt returns:
TB: Danny Reece, 2 for 7 yards NYJ: Lou Piccone, 6 for 112 yards and 1 TD; Louie Giammona, 1 for 5 yards
Interceptions:
NYJ: Rich Sowells, 1 for 27 yards; Ed Taylor, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
TB: Dave Green, 7 for 253 yards NYJ: Duane Carrell, 5 for 188 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 2/3